2002 GMC Savana Hard start when cold

BLUR01

MEMBER
2002 GMC SAVANA
158,000 MILES

I had a fuel pump put in 6 weeks ago after a failure, since around that time I have had a hard time starting. It will crank and crank, after a little bit it will start to catch and die, then finally start. I'm not sure if it started exactly when the fuel pump was replaced, if not it was soon after.

I am following the advice in the "excessive cranking" article, I am renting a fuel pressure tool from autozone tomorrow.

The truck runs fine otherwise. It does not have much power, but it never did. It is a bucket truck and carries alot of weight.

The longer it has been sitting the longer it takes to start up. It seems to crank fine.

Once when I was cranking it longer then normal due to frustration it threw up codes p0171 and p0174 but just that one time.

I will post again after I get the fuel pressure results.

I have been riding around with the doghouse off, I have not smelled any leaking gas and have not found any vacuum leaks. There don't seem to be many vacuum hoses. I guess there is vacuum under the upper manifold. Im hoping it isnt the fuel pressure regulator, looks like a pain to replace.

Great site, thanks for all the articles. I've learned alot from reading the questions also.

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6 Replies

SINBAD271

MECHANIC
169 POSTS

Thank you for sharing your mind set. I'm new to this sight although I've been turning wrenches for over 25yrs. It's a good feeling helping people with there vehicle, sharing my skill level, and showing people what kinds of stress some machanics go through diagnosing different issues. But at the end when its said and done they see its not really that bad, it just takes time and patience and understanding how it all works. Thank you again.

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Friday, May 31st, 2013 AT 6:47 PM

MIKEDEROUIN88

MEMBER
137 POSTS

Was the pump replaced at a shop. The installer could have pinched a line in the tank or above the tank when reinstalling. Deffinatly do a pressure test. And was the filter changed too? The pressure regulator is in the upper plenum on the spider injector.

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Friday, May 31st, 2013 AT 6:49 PM

BLUR01

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3 POSTS

The pump was replaced at a shop. I'm not sure 100% but the fuel filter does look new.

I rented a fuel pressure gauge from Autozone and either it is not working or I am using it incorrectly. When I turned the key on it read 50 lbs and after starting it read the same. It very slowly went down after shut down. I had to fiddle with it alot to get a reading. Anyway this morning I went to do the test again and I had a zero reading, even after starting the engine, so obviously it is not working or I have a severe case of operator error. The specs in my haines book say it should be 60-66 lbs.

Not sure what all this means, I decided to take it back to the place I got the fuel pump done (Fletchers Medford NJ). The only reason I hesitated is they are 70 miles from home. (I broke down on the road to Toms River). They towed me quick and got me going promptly, and have a large shop suitable for large trucks. They also dropped me off at a hotel and picked me up and treated me fairly. I will post the results, Thanks all.

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Sunday, June 2nd, 2013 AT 8:00 AM

SINBAD271

MECHANIC
169 POSTS

Thank you, please keep up in the loop.

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Sunday, June 2nd, 2013 AT 9:20 AM

BLUR01

MEMBER
3 POSTS

The new fuel pump was not putting out the correct pressure and had to be replaced. The shop owner told me it was an AC Delco pump. It was replaced for no charge under warranty. I am thankful I didn't start taking stuff apart and also glad I didn't take it to a shop in my area, I brought it back to the shop that did the fuel pump originally. So incredibly I made some correct decisions. Thanks all.